SPATEC UK & Europe News

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HAPPINESS AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Delegates at SPATEC 2007 at the end of last month, agreed that the inaugural event kicked off with a stimulating first session, as Dr Tim Anstiss’ lively presentation examined the role of spa in helping people achieve sustainable wellbeing into the future. His thought provoking presentation provided the perfect start for a very busy two days which saw over 1000 quality meetings between key spa industry buyers and suppliers. In fact, the first SPATEC event proved so successful that a record breaking 75% of the suppliers have already booked their place for SPATEC 2008.
Dr. Anstiss highlighted the fact that despite decades of rising material wellbeing, emotional wellbeing is not improving and may in fact be worsening. The World Health Organisation predicts that depression will become the leading cause of loss of “quality adjusted life years” in developed nations by 2020.
Millions of pounds are now being put into wellbeing research and happiness. The results will be highly useful to the spa industry.
The interactive session created various platforms for discussion as delegates considered issues such as “What is wellbeing?”; “How does this differ from happiness?”; “Why do some people have more than others?” and “How can a spa truly contribute?”
Dr. Anstiss said that people do need to recognise that whilst a large part of someone’s happiness/wellbeing is pre-determined by genetics and personal circumstances, individuals can make choices and take action to change their overall mental wellbeing.
The spa industry can also contribute to the overall experience of an individual’s happiness. Research has shown that people remember the highlight and an ending of an experience. Often the ending of a spa visit is a clumsy sales pitch which may be undermining return visits. By ensuring that the customer has a memorable finish to their overall experience, they will leave happier and more likely to return.

Contributing to the customer’s experience is the interaction between therapist and client. Does the therapist try and steer a conversation, do they use proven reflective listening and counseling techniques to improve a client's self esteem and general well being. Is the conversation meaningful and directional or do they just talk about the weather? Does the therapist add to the client's feeling of well being? If the therapist has a positive impact and contributes to the overall experience, there is more chance of repeat visits. The therapist is key to the customer’s level of happiness during their visit and can assist with ensuring the customer leaves in a positive, happy state of mind.

Dr Anstiss asked the delegation to write down their own interpretation of wellbeing, wellness and optimal health, and questioned whether there was actually a difference and what this might mean to their customers. Delegates’ minds were certainly stimulated into looking at the bigger picture of wellbeing and happiness for themselves, their families, staff and customers.

Nigel Wallace, Event Director of SPATEC, comments: “SPATEC 2007 was the first time the spa industry has had an event that brings together key buyers and operators under the same roof for two days of quality meetings, networking and discussion forums. The feedback has been so positive and we’ve had the largest sign up rate for the following year for any of our events in the past 12 years! It really indicates what great heights the spa industry is reaching and we have witnessed that there is enthusiasm and dedication to take it onto the next level.”

For more details on SPATEC 08 (April 23-26, 2008) please contact Nigel Wallace on +44 7717 745771 or email nigel@mcleaneventsinternational.com.

NEWS - 18/05/2007

Latest News

• HAPPINESS AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

  Delegates at SPATEC 2007 at the end of last month, agreed that the inaugural event kicked off with a stimulating first session, as Dr Tim Anstiss’ lively presentation examined the role of spa in helping people achieve sustainable wellbeing into the future. His thought provoking presentation provided the perfect start for a very busy two days which saw over 1000 quality meetings between key spa industry buyers and suppliers. In fact, the first SPATEC event proved so successful that a record breaking 75% of the suppliers have already booked their place for SPATEC 2008.

  NEWS - 18/05/2007

• EXPERTS SHARE OPINIONS ON THE SPA MARKET

  The Spa Open Forum which took place at SPATEC 2007 in Malta at the end of April, generated some interesting debate about the key issues facing the industry. A panel of experts offered opinions and individual interpretation of data from the first ‘State of the UK Spa Industry Report 2007’ and encouraged feedback from the event attendees.

  NEWS - 15/05/2007

• State of the UK Spa Report 2007 results released at SPATEC

  The State of the UK Spa Industry Report 2007 was launched at the inaugural SPATEC event in Malta at the end of April. Supported by the Spa Business Association and Spa Source this research aimed to set down benchmarks and a commentary from which to gauge scope, movement and potential of this evolving sector. According to new research undertaken by The Leisure Database Company in partnership with SPATEC, UK consumers make an estimated 6 million visits per annum to spas throughout Britain, equivalent to 10% of the UK population*. The research estimated that there are 4,571 therapists employed across the 402 UK spas and around 6 million spa treatments are purchased per annum.

  News - 11/05/2007